Harrison Ford injured in small plane crash at Venice golf course

Harrison Ford was injured after his small plane crashed during an emergency landing at Penmar Golf Course in Venice on Thursday afternoon.

KABC

By Melissa Leu and Leanne Suter

Thursday, March 05, 2015

VENICE, Calif. (KABC) --

Actor Harrison Ford crash landed a small vintage plane at Penmar Golf Course in Venice less than two minutes after takeoff on Thursday afternoon.

The single-engine, Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR plane clipped the top of a tree before crashing shortly before 2:30 p.m. onto the golf course, just west of the Santa Monica Municipal Airport, according to Federal Aviation Administration officials. Ford was attempting to return to the airport due to engine trouble, according to a senior federal official and audio of the crash.

Listen to the audio from the air traffic control tower of Harrison Ford's plane crash at a Venice golf course on Thursday.

"Harrison was flying a WW2 vintage plane today which had engine trouble upon take off. He had no other choice but to make an emergency landing, which he did safely. He was banged up and is in the hospital receiving medical care. The injuries sustained are not life threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery," Ford's publicist said in a statement.

Ford's plane was a WWII-era primary trainer used by the U.S. Air Force and was built in 1942. It is powered by a Kinner five-cylinder radial engine. The fuselage is entirely metal, but the wings and tail are covered with fabric.

Los Angeles police said the plane made an emergency landing near Rose and Glenavon avenues. The aircraft suffered medium to high impact, Los Angeles firefighters said.

Witness Elaine Miller said the plane appeared to be gliding in without noise and landed right side up. She, along with other bystanders on the golf course, ran up to the scene and pulled Ford out of the plane. Ford was in the backseat, she said.

The 72-year-old actor, known for "Blade Runner" and the "Indiana Jones" franchise, was cast to reprise his role as Han Solo in the new "Star Wars" trilogy, slated for release in December. He is known as an aviation enthusiast.

"I love the freedom of flight. I love the places you go. I love the people in aviation, the people that I meet in aviation. I love seeing the world from an airplane. I'm in love with flying," Ford told Barbara Walters in a 2008 interview.